Salmon Ladder Derby

Fish on the edge… for a chance to win up to $60, 000

Ucluelet, BC - Ucluelet is the place to be this year for a summer-long salmon fishing derby that will net the winners thousands of dollars and raise at least half that for local salmon enhancement.

The Ucluelet Salmon Enhancement Society was recently formed to run the Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby, the longest running locally organized fishing event ever to be held on the west coast.

 

2010

For nearly four months from May 24 to September 13, 2010, fishers of all ages will have the chance to compete for the biggest catch while enjoying “fishing on the edge” in the scenic waters around the fishing capital of Canada.

Throughout the derby, the 50 largest salmon (all five species of Pacific salmon are eligible) caught will be continuously ranked on the event’s website in a ladder format. Weigh-in stations will measure and photograph the fish. At the close of the derby, the top 50 fisherman will compete in a “fish-off” over three days (dates to be determined) for the largest cash prize.

Three times during the derby, at the end of June, the end of July and the end of August, cash prizes will be awarded to the top three fish caught. The catcher of the largest fish each month will receive $7,000, the second largest $2,000 and the third largest $1,000.

The top finishers each month will also get entry into the final fish-off to compete for the top cash prize of $30,000.

The derby’s co-chair Brian Clarkson said funds raised will go to the non-profit Thornton Creek Hatchery, which focuses on enhancing local coho, chinook and chum salmon populations. “Raising money to support salmon enhancement is as worthy a cause as one can find.”

Because it will be the longest running local event this summer, the economic spin-offs to the community could reach into the millions, from accommodation to transportation, from restaurants to fish processing.
The Ucluelet Salmon Enhancement Society will present a cheque to the Fish-off winner and Thornton Creek Hatchery during the warp up festivities planned for the close of the 2010 derby in September.

Please visit the event website (www.UclueletSalmonLadderDerby.com) or email info@ucluelet.travel for more information.

See you on the water!